Politics

Still Deadlocked: Jury Says They’re Divided In Menendez’s Corruption Trial

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The jury in New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez’s trial said for a second time Thursday that they are deadlocked on the counts of the indictment, a strong sign that the case may soon end in a mistrial.

The panel first indicated Monday afternoon that they were struggling to reach a verdict, but U.S. District Judge William Walls instructed the jury to keep deliberating.

Judges often give deadlocked juries an instruction called an “Allen charge,” sometimes referred to as a “hammer charge.” The instruction reminds jurors of the time, effort, and resources expended over the course of the prosecution, and asks jurors in the minority to reconsider the reasonableness of their positions. The jury then retires to resume deliberations.

Should the jurors fail to reach a verdict, the judge will declare a mistrial, which would be a temporary victory for the embattled Democrat. Federal prosecutors would then decide whether to bring another case against him.

For his part, Walls did not appear inclined to pursue an Allen charge, and seemed ready to declare a mistrial.

“Based upon what has been so clearly and definitively written, that would be a futile exercise,” Walls replied when prosecutors asked him to order further deliberations. The judge will privately interview the jury foreman then make a decision.

Menendez faces 18 charges including bribery, honest services fraud, conspiracy, interstate travel to carry out bribery and making false statements on federally-mandated financial disclosures forms.

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